Temple University Introduces New Kendrick Lamar Course Led by Professor Timothy Welbeck

Temple University is once again bridging the gap between hip-hop and academia with a new course set to launch in the Fall 2025 semester. Professor Timothy Welbeck, who serves as both a faculty member in the Department of Africology and African American Studies and the Director of the Center for Anti-Racism at the university, has announced a new course centered around one of modern music’s most influential artists — Kendrick Lamar.

Titled “Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City,” the course is already generating buzz among students at the Philadelphia-based institution. According to Welbeck, the class aims to examine the intricate connections between Lamar’s music, his personal evolution, and broader themes within the Black American experience.

“Kendrick Lamar is one of the defining voices of his generation,” Welbeck said in an interview with NBC10. “In many ways, both his art and life are reflective of the Black experience in telling ways. Being able to discuss his art in the environment that helped shape him gives insight not just into Kendrick as an individual, but also into journeys of self-actualization in the Black community.”

Welbeck is no stranger to integrating hip-hop into the classroom. He previously taught a course on 2Pac, and Temple’s curriculum has also featured courses on Beyoncé and Jay-Z, reflecting the university’s growing recognition of hip-hop as a critical lens through which to study Black culture, politics, and identity.

This latest course will dive into the socio-political landscape of Compton, California — Lamar’s hometown — exploring how urban policies and demographic shifts influenced his perspective and artistry. The syllabus promises to combine musical analysis with academic readings and cultural critique to paint a fuller picture of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper’s impact.

“The course will take a look at various scholarship around the types of urban policies that shift the demographic of Compton and how it helped to shape Kendrick Lamar,” Welbeck explained. “Through this, students will gain a clearer understanding of hip-hop as it relates to the Black experience.”

The course arrives at a high point in Lamar’s career. 2025 has already been a landmark year for the rapper. He swept the Grammy Awards earlier this year and recently completed the North American leg of his Grand National Tour alongside SZA. The co-headlining run, which ended on June 18, broke records to become the highest-grossing tour of its kind and was praised for its immersive storytelling and powerful stagecraft.

Now, Lamar’s legacy continues to be unpacked in academic settings, offering fans and students alike a rare opportunity to explore the deeper cultural meanings behind his body of work. With limited seats available, “Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City” is expected to fill quickly, cementing its place as one of Temple University’s most anticipated new offerings.